A video circulating on Facebook claims Vice President Sara Duterte has been sworn into office as the new president of the Philippines. The clip is bogus.
On July 27, an FB user uploaded a one-minute and 33-second video showing Duterte making the following oath before Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando:
“I, Sara Zimmerman Duterte, do solemnly swear that I will faithfully and conscientiously fulfill my duties as president of the Philippines, preserve and defend its Constitution, execute its laws, do justice to every man, and consecrate myself to the service of the nation. So help me God.” (Emphasis ours)
Another user reposted the video on Aug. 3 and superimposed this text onto the clip:
“Sara DUTERTE Nanumpa na bilang BAGONG presidente Ng PILIPINAS. Ika (3) tatlong Babae ng Pilipinas na naging presidente
(Sara Duterte has taken her oath as the new president of the Philippines. She is the Philippine’s third woman president).”
A reverse image search shows that the original footage is from Duterte’s inauguration as vice president on June 19, 2022. It was altered to omit the word “vice” before “president” as it was mentioned by Duterte and Hernando.
The overlaid text in the circulating fake clips also concealed the on-screen label identifying the event as the inauguration of “Vice President-elect” Duterte.
Under the 1987 Constitution, the vice president can succeed the president only in the event of the latter’s death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation.
The country’s head of state remains to be President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who delivered his fifth State of the Nation Address on the same day the fake video began circulating.
The fabricated reel surfaced during the third week of the impeachment trial against the vice president. Duterte could be removed from office and banned from holding public office if convicted by the Senate sitting as an impeachment court.
As of writing, the videos published by two FB users have collectively garnered 5,700 reactions; 1,006 comments; and 2,740 shares.
